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Valentine's Day on the way


Following last week's love letter story, here is another very romantic item that would be perfect for Valentine's Day... it's only a couple of weeks away, everyone!


Today I am offering a very rare and beautiful "solitaire" cabaret set. Solitaire is French for "solitary" and it is the word used for tea sets that serve just one person. "Cabaret" is also French, and in the context of porcelain it is used for tea services that are arranged on a matching tray - presumably because all the items are grouped around the teapot the way you'd set up a room in "cabaret" style, where everyone sits around tables but can see the entertainer.



This beautiful set was made by Flight & Barr some time between 1792 and 1807. The set is a perfect example of what was happening at the Flight & Barr factory at the time: after a very difficult time at the Worcester factory, John Flight had taken it over and partnered with Martin Barr Sr to turn the troubled factory around. While their finances were still precarious, they came up with very sophisticated designs that didn't cost the world, but managed to attract new attention of the nobility. This gave them the financial stability that would, after 1807, result in a particularly opulent time of outrageously beautiful and lavish designs that equalled or even surpassed those of all other factories.



But this little set is still restrained, yet very refined. The pale pink colour is beautiful, and you can see in the way it has aged that it was a challenge to produce it - but it's still there, and still beautiful. The gilding is not opulent, but very gracious with its Neoclassical sprigs.



The set also has an interesting provenance: it came from the Lord and Lady Flight collection, which means it has been in the Flight family ever since production. The next buyer will be the first owner outside the Flight family since this beautiful set came out of the factory (I'm counting myself only as a foster home!).



The teapot is perfect for just a couple of cups of tea - but that also means you could easily add another cup and enjoy this set with two. And of course, it would balance well on your knees while in bed for a romantic slow morning, although you should remember that if you take tea for two, just don't do anything more than drinking tea while you have it in bed....!



Where to find things

You can find many more romantic Valentine's ideas here, and you can find all my available stock here. If you always want to see the latest additions, follow me on Instagram... I post pictures and a story several times a week.


Happy weekend everyone, and treat someone to a romantic tea break! ♥️







 

This week's new treasures:​

 





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